Calvert Set for SprintX Debut and GT Programs in Utah

Phoenixville, PA – Calvert Dynamics will make its SprintX debut in the Pirelli World Challenge this weekend at Utah Motorsports Campus. Preston Calvert and Andrew Davis will share the driving duties in a Phoenix Performance prepared Porsche 911 GT3R, while Calvert will also mark his second weekend in GTA competition and Michael Lewis will run the No. 98 in the GT class.
SprintX will throw a new curveball to the team for their debut in the class, which features 60-minute long races featuring a driver change. Each entry has a pro/am driver lineup, with a pit stop required to change drivers and up to one tire between the 25- and 35-minute mark of the race, leading to plenty of strategy among pit lane.

“I’m looking forward to getting back behind the wheel of our Calvert Dynamics Porsche GT3R for SprintXs,” said Davis. “My favorite aspect of these races is that I am able to share the driving duties with Preston. We have been looking for an opportunity to drive together for the last couple years, and now is our chance. It’s going to be our first go at the exciting new format of Pirelli World Challenge racing, so we will be studying hard to find the optimal approach to strategy”

Calvert added: “The format of the SprintX races over a weekend will give me a chance to be both the starting and finishing driver in the car, which will be valuable experience. My main previous experience driving in an endurance format was competing for Phoenix American Motorsports in IMSA Continental GS class in 2014 with Kurt Rezzetano, where I learned the basics of this racing style.

“I especially look forward to joining with Andrew Davis to drive the SprintX races in GT class,”Calvert continued. “Andrew Davis is one of the fastest and most experienced GT drivers in the country, and has so much experience in both sprint and endurance racing from which I can learn. It is a great privilege to be his co-driver.”

For strategy, decision-making will come down to team bosses Andrew and Joe Aquilante, along with Stefan Pfeiffer, race engineer.

Teams will get two opportunities to show off their strategy skill set, with SprintX races scheduled for both Saturday and Sunday.

“”The timing of pit stops is guided by a simple algorithm within the mandated 10 minute stop window. Our crew prides itself on quick and precise over-the-wall performance, so we are all excited by the opportunity to practice these skills again,” said Calvert.

Calvert will be busy, also racing in both GT/GTA/GT Cup rounds in Utah, where he hopes to build on his fourth place effort at Mid-Ohio two weeks ago in the No. 77 Porsche.

Michael Lewis closed out the Mid-Ohio weekend with a run to a sixth place result in the No. 98 Porsche, and hopes to move onto podium results heading into a double-header for the GT classes in Utah.

“Utah Motorsports Campus is a fast and flowing track. The way the turns are combined really provides for some nice racing on the track,” said Lewis.”There is also the large front straightaway which makes things interesting. We look forward to tuning our Porsche and getting everything out of the driver, crew, and engineer. Each of us doing our part will put us in the best position to succeed. I’m looking forward to racing up in the altitude and getting right back into racing after our short break.”